This column was originally published on Nov. 4, 2002.

The Scene: Wednesday, the day after elections, in a waiting room outside the President's office.

The Players: The principals of the administration's economic team

"Hey Harvey, you still gonna be chairman of the SEC?"

Harvey Pitt looks over at chief economic adviser Larry Lindsey.

"Why you knucklehead. It was your jaw boning to the President, warning him not to get too tough, that got us into this jam in the first place!" Pitt pokes the White House economic adviser in the eye.

"Ow!"

"Now you sit there and shut up...and the next time the President gets fired up to take strong action against Corporate Crooks, like he did last January, shut your yap, stop worrying about over-regulation and market dips, and let him do it," Pitt slaps Lindsey on both cheeks. "That way I won't have to be the one who's supposed to look tough."

"Woowooowooo," whines Lindsey.

"Hey guys, do you think the President is really mad at us?" asks Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, who is making himself dizzy swatting at a fly buzzing his head. "I mean, is he gonna can us and get people with a little more political sense?"

"Nah," sneers Pitt, sliding over to O'Neill. "He just asked us over here to tell us what a wonderful job the American People think we're doing! Now hit this!"

O'Neill smacks the proffered fist, which spins in a circle and konks him square on the head -- much like his remarks on the economy.

"Oooohhhh..." the Treasury Secretary moans.

"Talking with the Enron guy," Pitt mutters, "... your little comments about Brazil and Japan...why I oughta..."

O'Neill ducks Pitt's two-fingered stab which nails Lindsey.

"Oh, a wise guy," says Lindsey, brushing at his forehead. "It was you who didn't do nothing about those crooks in the first place. And then you wouldn't listen to nobody about what to do. And then you who didn't tell anyone about the problem with the new accounting board guy." Lindsey shoots out a hand at Pitt, who bites it. Lindsey jumps up and down, landing on O'Neill's foot. O'Neill yells and pulls up his knee, which hits Pitt in the groin.

A door to the waiting room opens. White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card appears. He's holding a cream pie.

"Gentlemen, the President will see you now."

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Harvey Pitt resigned Nov. 6. O'Neill and Lindsey resigned Friday.  

Allen Wastler is Managing Editor of CNN/Money and a commentator on CNNfn. He can be emailed here.